February 23, 2013 09:49 PM CSTFebruary 24, 2013 12:30 PM CSTCarlton: Inside Texas' new turbo-charged offense; can it get Horns back on track?

Carlton: Inside Texas' new turbo-charged offense; can it get Horns back on track?

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Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer

Texas Longhorns quarterback David Ash (14) celebrates with Texas Longhorns tight end D.J. Grant (18) and Texas Longhorns center Dominic Espinosa (55) after scoring a touchdown in a game against the Oregon State Beavers during the second half of the Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio on December 29, 2012.

Despite the comparisons, Brown insisted that Texas would still be Texas — whatever that means.

“We don’t want to be anybody else. We want to be us,” Brown said as spring practice started this week. “And I feel like we can do that.”

In 15 practices, new offensive play-caller Major Applewhite must implement the system for a pivotal 2013 season. As Longhorns fans know all too well, Texas is 22-16 the last three seasons.

With 19 starters returning from a 9-4 team that beat Oregon State in the Valero Alamo Bowl, hope is alive of a return to Big 12 and national contention. Brown has even publicly pointed to 2013 as a year for real progress, although he refused to put any special emphasis on it Thursday.

From replacing safety Kenny Vaccaro to finding run-stopping linebackers to developing consistent kicking, Texas has plenty of work ahead.

At the same time, much rests on the offense finding its identity.

Whether winning or struggling, everybody knew what Texas was with Vince Young and Colt McCoy, where the Longhorns often used “Jet” tempo.

Garrett Gilbert struggled with two different offenses in 2010, followed by Bryan Harsin’s evolving version of the Boise offense for two seasons. Now it’s back to what Young and McCoy did, with Brown still pledging a power running game.

Brown said the inspiration for the change came after games last season against Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Baylor. All used the high-tempo, no-huddle as a base offense. The result: 134 points and 1,643 yards total offense allowed by Texas in those three games. Each of those three teams finished the season ranked in the top 10 nationally in total offense.

“All of those teams were really, really good offensively,” Brown said.

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